Chapter 9 - THE LAST GUEST
Richard Shaw agreed to meet Nathaniel at a private restaurant.
The police advised Nathaniel not to go alone. He went with Daniel and two officers in plain clothes. The meeting was arranged as a controlled interview, with the location monitored.
Richard arrived wearing a charcoal suit and a gold watch. He looked older than he had at the wedding, though only a few days had passed.
“You've made a mess of this,” Richard said.
Nathaniel did not sit.
“Your daughter tried to take control of my company.”
“She wanted security for her future.”
“She forged my mother's signature.”
“Your mother is old. She should not be managing a corporation.”
“She is the trustee because my father trusted her.”
Richard gave a cold smile.
“Your father trusted too many people.”
Nathaniel placed the recovered note on the table.
“Did you arrange the fall?”
Richard looked at it.
“I wasn't on the rooftop.”
“Did you know what Victoria planned?”
“I knew she wanted Eleanor to sign. I didn't know she would lose her balance.”
“That's not an answer.”
Richard sighed.
“Marcus said the old woman would be persuaded. The document was ready. The board was ready. All Victoria had to do was become your wife and get the signature.”
“And if my mother refused?”
Richard looked at Nathaniel.
“Then she would be declared unfit. You would be too distracted by the wedding and the company to challenge it.”
Nathaniel's jaw tightened.
“Did you tell them to push her?”
Richard said nothing.
The silence was enough to change the room.
One of the officers stepped forward.
“Mr. Shaw, you're under arrest for conspiracy, attempted fraud, and solicitation of harm. We'll discuss the additional charges at the station.”
Richard stood.
“You think you can run that company without us?”
Nathaniel looked at him.
“I'd rather lose it than let people like you own it.”
Richard was escorted outside.
Meanwhile, investigators located Marcus Bell at a private airfield. He had booked a charter flight under a false name. In his luggage were forged trust documents, cash, and a passport belonging to another person.
He was arrested before boarding.
Victoria was found at a hotel near the airport. She had packed two suitcases and was preparing to leave the country. Police recovered messages between her and Marcus, including instructions about the forged signature page and the altered medical assessment.
When the investigator informed Nathaniel, he felt no triumph.
Only exhaustion.
He returned to the hospital.
Eleanor was sitting up, looking out at the evening sky.
“Is it over?” she asked.
“The people responsible are in custody.”
“All of them?”
“Victoria, Marcus, and her father.”
Eleanor closed her eyes.
“I wanted to be wrong about her.”
“So did I.”
She looked at him.
“Do you still love her?”
Nathaniel considered the question.
“I loved the person I thought she was.”
Eleanor reached for his hand.
“That's a difficult thing to lose.”
He sat beside her.
“I nearly lost you instead.”
May you like
She squeezed his fingers.
“But I didn't.”
